Maurice w



(No Model.)

M. W. WHITE.

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

No. 361,659. Patented Apr. 19, 1887.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE \V. \VHITE, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO GEORGE XV. ROSS, OF SAME PLACE.

BRIDGE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.36l,659, dated April 19,1887.

Serial No. 205,890. (No model.)

of Somerville, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Bridges for Stringed Instruments, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing likeparts.

This invention has for its object to construct a novel form of bridgefor stringed instruments, whereby the vibrations of the strings may beconducted to the face of the instrument with the least obstruction, sothat substantially the full effect of the vibrating string may be feltby theinstrument, to thereby pro duce a very full, round, and cleartone.

In carrying out this invention 1 have so cut or shaped the bridge as topresent four arms,

radiating from each other somewhat like the letter X, the two uppermostarms beingjoined together at the top to form the crown of the bridge,and the lower ends of the two lowermost'arms are provided with the usualfeet, a brace being interposed between the lowermost arms, connectingeither the lower arms or it may be the feet, to give suitable strengthto the bridge to support the strain upon it. The bridge thus shapedpresents a narrow waist at the point where the four arms cross orintersect, so that, besides vibrating backward and forward, the bridgeis also permitted to vibrate or rock longitudinally, or to vibrate insubstantiallyevery direction, thus greatly increasing the efficiency ofthe bridge in conducting the vibrations of the strings to theinstrumentin order that the full effect of such vibrations may be felt by the saidinstrument.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation a bridge constructed in accordancewith this invention, and Fig. 2 a modification to be referred to- Inconstructing the bridge herein to be described, in order that thevibrations of the strings may have a speedy and unobstructed passage tothe instrument, the same is so cut or shaped as to present or leave fourarms, a b c d, somewhat resembling the letter X, the said armsintersecting or extending from a waist.

The upper ends of the uppermost arms, a b, are joined together by thecrown 6, over which the strings are stretched, the central portion ofthe said crown being connected with the waist 10, from which the armsradiate. A brace, f, is interposed between the arms a d, connecting, asshown in Fig. 1, the feet 2 3 of the said arms, the bracefgiving to thebridge sufficient strength to support the strain upon it, said bracebeing also connected to the waist w opposite the junction of the crown,with the waist to serve as a pivotal point upon which the two arms a I)and connected crown may rock.

In Fig. 2 the brace f connects the lower ends of the arms 0d just abovethe feet, which construction has been found to produce good results,although the form shown in Fig. 1 is preferable.

The bridge may be ornamented in Various ways, according to fancy.

By shaping the bridge as above described a narrow waist, 10, ispresented, from which the arms radiate in such direction that the bridgemay rock substantially in all directions under the vibration of thestrings, thus enabling the instrument to feel the full effects of suchvibrations, producing a very round, full, and clear tone.

In bridges as now commonly made each cross-bar seriously retards thevibration of the strings and diminishes their volume, whereas if thebridge has arms by which to support the crown in such manner as toenable the vibration of the strings to be transmitted to the instrumentwithout obstruction the result is the production of tones of greatervolume.

I claim- 1. A bridge for stringed instruments, comprising four armsradiating from a waist somewhat like the letter X, combined with a crownjoining together the two uppermost arms, and the brace joining togetherthe two lowermost arms, substantially as described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a bridge for stringedinstruments, it being shaped to present four arms,somewhat like theletter X, radiating from a waist, the lower ends of the lowermost armshaving feet which are joined together by a brace, while the uppermostarms are joined together by a crown, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

3. As an improved article of manufacture,

pernlost arms being joined together by a crown, the central portion ofwhich is connected with the waist, substantially as de- I5 scribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two sub scribing witnesses.

MAURICE V. WHITE.

a bridge for stringed instruments, it being shaped to present four arms,somewhat like the letter X, radiating from a waist, and a braceinterposed between and joining the lowermost arms, the central part ofsaid brace being connected with the waist, while the uppermost arms arejoined together by a crown, substantially as and for the purposedescribed. I 4. As an improved article of manufacture,

a bridge for stringed instruments, it being \Vitnesses: shaped topresentfourarms,somewhat like the BERNIOE J. NoYEs, letter X, radiatingfrom a waist, the two up- I F. CUTTER.

